Demke, Whiteley Pad West Region Leads in Woodburn

Demke, Whiteley Pad West Region Leads in Woodburn

by Todd Veney/Pro Sportsman Association

Incoming West Region points leaders Chris Demke and Annie Whiteley swept the West Region event at Woodburn Dragstrip, Demke scoring for the second time this season in regional competition and Whiteley for the fourth.

Whiteley's husband, Jim, was neck and neck with Demke in the Top Alcohol Dragster final until his car banged the blower near the 1,000-foot mark, slowing him to a 5.41 at just 217 mph. "I heard the boom," Demke said. "I heard him right alongside me the whole way, and then I heard the bang. For a second, I thought it was my car and expected to slow and lose. It took a little bit to realize that I wasn't slowing down."

It was the first time all year that Whiteley, who scored in Las Vegas, Denver, and Tulsa, has lost a round in regional competition. He's led the national standings since early in the season and, because of the new 7/3 national/regional format for the alcohol cars this year, he can earn no more points towards the national title at a regional race.

"This weekend was all about trying to win a regional championship," Demke said. "Jim's already won three – he can't improve nationally – but we both want to win the regional championship, too, so here we are."

Whiteley qualified No. 1 with a 5.28 and ran another 5.28 on a first-round single and a 5.29 against track co-owner and defending event champ Joey Severance in the semi's, all at 271 mph. Demke was second in qualifying with a 5.31, shook the tires in

the first round, and got lane choice for the final with a 5.28 in the semifinals. He pulled away from Whiteley on the top end with a track-record 5.27.

"This weekend was critical for the regional championship," Demke said. "I have to win the Vegas regional in November. If I do and Whiteley is the runner-up, we'll both have three wins and two runner-ups, but I'll win on the tie-breaker: most wins within the region." Beating Whiteley for the national championship will be tougher: Demke has to win his next three national event starts and hope that Whiteley goes out early at his next two.

Rookie Annie Whiteley has won more regional events than anyone in Top Alcohol Funny Car this year – four altogether and three in a row: Las Vegas, Tulsa, Sonoma, and now Woodburn. After qualifying second behind Doug Gordon (5.60 to 5.61), she had low e.t. of all three rounds of eliminations, starting with a track-record 5.54 in the first round opposite quick-leaving Sean Bellemeur.

Earlier in that round, 2011 U.S. Nationals Comp champ Jirka Kaplan, who was making his debut in Top Alcohol Funny Car at this race, upset second-ranked Steve Gasparrelli on a holeshot with a .015 reaction time, 5.75 to 5.66. Kaplan had a .018 in the semifinals, but Whiteley drove around him with a 5.610. In the other semifinal matchup, Brian Hough just missed lane choice for the final with a 5.617 against Russ Parker, who had his second consecutive .020 light.

Hough had excellent lights in the first two rounds but Whiteley got the drop on him in the final, .087 to .092, and held it to the finish line, 5.60 to 5.63.